Leaf - for Hiroshima

In the midst of all my worries about Whisper, what should come my way but this little video of what can only be described as a moving Haiku for Hiroshima.  Yesterday, 6th of August, was Hiroshima Day and somehow this says as much to me as all the possible words that might be said.

The Meaning of Music

Looking out the upstairs window at the empty garden. It rained for a few minutes and now the sun is out again.

The light has already moved away from here and will be on the other side of the house in a few hours. There are some trees that lean into the garden and it won’t be long before the birds start coming back.

Picked up my violin to practise and just stood there looking out.

Does music really mean so little after all?

- Jenny

I'm Lost

Another postcard from Whisper’s picture box. The same person, actress Maud Jeffries, in yet another role. Clues… they must be here somewhere.

How many days has it been? Still no Whisper. Unfortunately, these pictures of Maud are beginning to look more like me than providing any clues as to Whisper’s whereabouts.  Has Maud been left behind too?   I don't know.

The message I showed you last time concerning the sinking of the HMS Gladiator stirred me into looking for more information about the tragedy. It was, after all, written on one of the old postcards which for some reason Whisper wanted you to see. I know it must seem as though I’m clutching at straws, but there could be a message from Whisper here somewhere.

The postcard was dated April 26 1908, the day after the accident took place. In charge of the HMS Gladiator was Captain Walter Lumsden. It is just a coincidence, I know, but the message on the card was signed “W”, and Whisper’s brother’s name is Walter.

It is impossible to imagine what it must have been like for all those poor souls. The Captain did everything possible in the midst of a blinding snow-storm to save his ship from being rammed by the St. Paul and to save the lives of his crew.  Thirty lost and many injured.

With this sad story in mind I could not help but notice that in the background of this picture of Maud - a ship. Entering or leaving the harbour, it is hard to say. But on the horizon, is that a second ship? Or could it even be lighthouse?

- Jenny

The Unanswered Prayer

Thank you so much for your messages. Don’t worry if your suggestions seem a little out of the ordinary. Just to hear from you is a comfort.

It is now three days since Whisper disappeared. All I can do now is wait. I haven’t put notices on the trees and lamp posts; I just wouldn’t know what to write – ‘Missing’, ‘Lost’? It can’t really be true, can it?

As I mentioned yesterday, before Whisper disappeared, she left two pictures that she was meaning to show you. The first, you have seen, the second is here at the top. It appears to be the same woman we saw yesterday.

So, again, if this means anything to you and if you can see anything at all that might shed some light on the mystery of Whisper’s whereabouts then please do get in touch. Every little detail might contain a clue.

However, there is something about yesterday's picture that I only noticed today. It is an old postcard and is postmarked 1908.

There is a message on the back but because of  time and the fact that it was written in pencil, the writing has almost faded away completely. But with a little effort I was eventually able to read it.  As you can see, the message has been written upside-down.

The message reads:

Thanks for Chronicle & letter forwarded. Shall arrive usual time unless I get snowed up. Rather warmer today though. They had a blizzard round Portsmouth yesterday & off the Needles. HMS Gladiator was run down & lost. An officer & 30 men are still missing – probably drowned. The remainder are saved.

Kind regards,
W

Whereabouts Unknown

It is now more than 48 hours since I last saw Whisper. I have searched for her everywhere and not a sign. She didn’t touch the food I left for her two days ago and she just seems to have vanished into thin air. As you will appreciate, I am upset.

I’m sorry - this is Jenny. I will tell you all I know.

Since we got back from Dorset, Whisper has been acting strange. She rarely went out and if she did, within minutes I would see her hurry back indoors. I would often find her at the kitchen window staring out at the garden next door and whenever Mr. or Mrs. Willow came out Whisper would duck down out of sight. I just don’t understand.

I hope this helps to explain why Whisper hasn’t been up to posting anything for a while. She had selected some pictures from her picture box to show you but I don’t know what she wanted to say about them. Nevertheless, I will put one of them here in the hope that it might help you keep her in your mind. She is in my mind every moment.

Can anyone please see any clue in this picture as to Whisper’s whereabouts? I just don’t know what else to do.

Secrets of the Night

I was going to call this The Night Journey 2, but I think this picture will explain why I didn’t.

The Cabinet of the Secrets of the Night

I kept getting up and walking around the house in the dark. I couldn’t remember it ever being as quiet as this before. It was like being in Dorset again; only there, creatures I never saw in the day kept talking to each other all night. But there was nothing here to stop me going out.

Although it was dark I could see that the windows were closed so I went to the backdoor and was just about to go through the flap when suddenly I stopped. I thought there was something on the other side waiting for me to put my head out. I didn’t hear anything but if there was something out there that’s where they’d be waiting.

The chair was in the wrong place again so it took a few tries before I could get to the kitchen window. At first I couldn’t see anything. It seemed even darker out there than it was inside. Then I could just make out the top of the tree next door; it looked like a ghost but that was probably because of all its little white flowers. I thought of going next door tomorrow and climbing up there just to see for myself.

I was about to jump down from the window when something outside caught my eye. It’s hard to explain how you could see a shadow in the dark, but that’s what I saw. I kept very still and waited. If the shadow moved again then the shadow or what was making the shadow must really be there. And if the shadow was prepared to wait then so was I. With the window between us I knew I’d have time to get down and get up the stairs.

Time doesn’t seem to know where to go when you’re keeping still, so I don’t know how long I was waiting there. Suddenly there were three taps at the back door.

Usually I know it’s Jenny before she taps on the door, but this time my mind must have wandered because it gave me quite a start. She was already inside when I got to the door and she laughed and said, “Where were you then?” But I thought it best that I didn’t say a word.

Sometimes I think we’re just not meant to enquire into the secrets of the night.

Here is another picture that shows I’m not afraid of what’s outside.

The Night Journey

Jenny came down late this morning. The sun was making the kitchen hot and she didn’t notice that the light was still on. I don’t know why I pretend I’m not waiting. I went to my bowl and drank some water but it was warm.

She said she didn’t feel well last night. She had to get ready to go out tonight and play her violin so I had to listen to the same song over and over. I could gone outside but I didn’t.

There was a moth under the table. I touched it and it didn’t move. I suppose moths die all the time but that’s the first one I’ve seen that looked like it was smiling. Then I noticed I was looking at the back of the moth. How that could be I just don’t know. Maybe a smile can seep through from one side to the other.

I looked around the floor to see if there was anything else and all the time I could hear the violin.

It’s night again and Jenny is out. I could easily go out into the back garden but I won’t. I’ll wait till Jenny comes home and then I’ll go out. She turned out all the lights when she left.

Three children who went out into the night without their mother.